Heater structure



y 1943, w. WELCH 2,319,379

HEATER STRUCTURE Filed April 2, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.I2.

INVENTOR LEWIS W. WELCH May 18, 1943 L. w. WELCH HEATER STRUCTURE Filed April 2, 1941 l sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR FIG. 9.

y 1943 L. w; WELC H 2,

I HEATER STRUCTURE Filed Apfil 2, 1941 4 Sheetg-Sheet 4 llllllllllllli I]IIUUIlllllllllllllllllllllllljllllllIIUJ Patented May 18, 1943 HEATER STRUCTURE Lewis W. Welch, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Novi Equipment Company, Novi, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 2, 1941, Serial No. 386,521

13 Claims. (01. 257-237) in substantially a horizontal plane close to the floor of the vehicle so occupants of the front and rear portions of the vehicle will receive the benefit thereof.

Another object is to provide a heater wherein a radiator for receiving a heating fluid from the internal combustion engine of the vehicle, and a fan for circulating air from the atmosphere against said radiator to be heated, have a com- Another object is to provide a heater wherein the casing mentioned is provided in vertical. and

horizontal planes with inlet and outlet openings for the air and that contains a deflector that not only directs from the inlet to the outlet openings theair circulated by the fan but also serves as a mounting for the motor for the fan. 7

Another object is to provide a heater wherein resilient members are utilized to shield the connections between the casing and conduits for the heating fluid, to close openings in the floor of the vehicle through which such conduits extend, and to cushion certain parts of the heater so as to deaden noise and vibration.

Another object is to provide a heater that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and easy to install.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accom-' panying drawings, wherein: p

Figure l is a semi-diagrammatic plan view of a portion of a motor vehicle witha heater embodying my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a semi-diagrammatic side elevation of a portion of a motor vehicle with a heater embodying my invention applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

' Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the heater illustrated in Figure 1, with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the heater illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the structure illustrated in Figure 5, with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the radiator;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the radiator illustrated in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is another side elevational viewof the radiator;

Figure 10 is an end elevation of the radiator;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line Il'--l| of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line Figure 13 is an elevation of the radiator, fan, motor and lower casing section;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1 3;

Figure 15 is a section on the line l5l5 of Figure 14. I 7

Referring now to the drawings, A is the radiator or heat exchange element, B is the fan, C is the motorfor the fan, and D is a common casing for the radiator A and fan B and including a cupshaped part D that serves as a shield for the motor 0.

As shown, the radiator A is substantially U- shape in plan and comprises a pair of spaced substantially parallel elongated core elements It and I l and an intermediate straight connecting tube l2. Preferably the core elements It and II are alike and have headers l3 and M, respectively, tubes l5 extending between said headers l3 and I4, and fins l6 arranged side by side on the tubes I5 between said headers 13 and 14. The tube l2 opens into and is terminally secured to the headers M of the core elements I0 and II, while substantially L-shaped tubes" and I8, respectively, open into and are rigidly secured to the headers l3 of the core elements I!) and It. Any suitable means such as thesteel strap l9 may be secured to the headers l3 of the core elements to serve as a tie therebetween for shipping or other purposes.

The fan B is preferably between the core elements Ill and l I of the radiator at the top thereof and is mounted on the upstanding shaft 25 of the motor C. Preferably the blades 2| of the fan are inclined so that they will draw air from the atmosphere downwardly through the circular air inlet opening 22 in the top of the casing D and will force or push such air laterally between the fins N of the core elements l0 and II and outwardly through the outlet openings 23 and 24 in opposite ends of the casing D.

To facilitate the flow of air from the inlet 22 to the outlets 23 and 24, I have provided a deflector 25 that is substantially frusto-conical in configuration and that encircles the motor C for the fan B. Preferably this deflector is an integral raised portion "of the bottom 26 of the casing and is provided at its upper end with an inturned flange 21 that serves as a support for the motor C. As shown, suitable attaching bolts 28 for the motor extend from the upper end thereof through openings 29 in the inturned flange 21 and are held in place by nuts 30 on said bolts. To cushion the assembly and to deaden noise and vibration, there are resilient pads or grommets 3i sleeved on the bolts 28 and having portions above and below the inturned flange 21.

The motor C is of conventional design and extends downwardly through an opening 32 in the bottom 26 of the casing D. Such motor may be electricafly connected by any suitable means such as the electric conductors 33 to the usual electric circuit of the motor vehicle and may be under the control of any suitable electric switch (not shown) in said circuit.

To protect and conceal the downwardly projecting lower end of the motor C, there is a substantially cup-shaped shield D that opens upwardly toward and is secured to the bottom 26 of the casing D. In the present instance, attachment between the shield D' and casing D is accomplished by bolts 34 and nuts 35, and the bolts 34 extend downwardly through the bottom 26 of the casing and through the lateral attaching flange 36 of the shield for attachment to the floor E of the motor vehicle. Thus, the bolts 34 not only serve as a part of the attaching means for the shield D but also as a mounting for the heater upon the floor E of the motor vehicle.

The casing D is preferably formed of sheet metal and comprises an upper section 31 and a lower section 38. The upper section 31 forms the top and upright walls of the casing, while the lower section 38 forms the bottom of the casing and the combined deflector and motor support 25. Preferably the top of the casing 39 is provided around the central inlet opening 22 with an upstanding annular flange 40 of inverted L-cross section to which a suitable protecting screen 4| for the fan B is secured, while the bottom 26 of the casing has an upstanding marginal flange 42 that serves as an attaching memher for the lower section 38 and is adapted to be fastened by suitable screws 44 to the upright walls of the upper section 31.

As shown, some of the fins it of the radiator are disposed in the air outlet openings 23 and 24 in the casing and thus serve as grilles through which the heated air may be discharged from the casing.

'Io cushion the heater and deaden noise, there are resilient bushings or grommets 45 sleeved on the L-shaped tubes l1 and I8 and sealing the openings 46 in the bottom 26 of the casing through which the tubes I! and i8 extend, and

having lateral flanges 41 beneath the casing for engagement with the floor E of the vehicle. Also a resilient ring or grommet 48 is sleeved on the shield D underneath the casing for engagement with the floor E of the vehicle. If desired, resilient pads 49 and 50, respectively, may be secured to the top and bottom of the core sections l0 and II for engagement with the top 39 and bottom 25 of the casing.

When the heater is installed in the body of a motor vehicle, it is preferably mounted on the floor E beneath the front seat F of the vehicle and is connected by suitable hose 5| and 52, respectively, to the water circulating system of the vehicle engine G. If desired, a valve 53 may be included in the hose 5| at the point where it is connected to the head 54 of the engine to control the flow of hot water from the engine through said hose 5| to the heater. The other hose 52 may be connected by the nipple 55 to the radiator hose 56. Preferably the nipple 55 includes cooperating clamping portions 51 and 58, respectively, for gripping a wall of the radiator hose 56, and an adjusting nut 59 threadedly engaging the nipple stem upon which the hose 52 is mounted.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a heater that is mounted out of the way beneath the front seat of the vehicle. Inasmuch as the air inlet opening 22 is in the top of the heater casing beneath the seat, and the air outlet openings 23 and 24 are in opposite ends of the casing, a proper circulation of air within the vehicle body is assured. In fact, the heater constitutes a register from which the heated air is discharged to the front and rear of the seat F. Actually such heated air passes over the floor E in relatively close proximity thereto and thus serves eifectively to heat both the front and rear portions of the vehicle.

In the summer time or during warm weather the valve 53 may be closed so that the supply of hot Water from the engine G to the heater 5 will be out 01f. As a result, the operation of the fan B will then cause a circulation of air for cooling purposes to the front and rear portions of the motor vehicle.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A heater structure for use between the floor and'front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted upon the floor beneath the front seat of a motor vehicle, said casing having substantially horizontal top and 4 bottom walls and upright end walls, the top wall being provided at approximately the center thereof with an inlet opening for air, the end Walls having outlet openings through which air may be discharged to points in front and in rear of said seat, a fan within said casing beneath the inlet opening for circulating air from the inlet opening through the outlet openings, a motor for driving the fan, the bottom wall of said casing having a raised substantially frusto-conical portion encircling and forming an enclosure for a part of the motor, said frusto-conical portion being beneath the fan in the path of air from the inlet opening for deflecting such air toward the outlet openings, and means suspending the motor from said frusto-conical deflector.

2. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted upon the floor beneath the front seat of a motor vehicle, said 1 casing having substantially horizontal top and bottom walls and upright end walls, the top wall being provided at approximately the center thereof with an inlet opening for air, the end walls having outlet openings through which air may be discharged to points in front and in rear of said seat, a fan within said casing beneath the inlet opening for circulating air from the inlet opening through the outlet openings, a motor for driving the fan, an enclosure for the motor rising from the bottom wall of the casing in the path of air from the inlet opening, and having means for deflecting such air toward said outlet openings, and means supporting the motor from said enclosure.

3. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted upon the floor beneath the front seat of a motor vehicle, said casing having substantially horizontal top and bottom walls and upright end walls, the top wall being provided at approximately the center thereof with an inlet opening for air, the end walls beneath the front seat of a motor vehicle, said casing having substantially horizontal top and bottom walls and upright end walls, the top wall being provided at approximately the centerthereof with an inlet opening for air, the end walls having outlet openings through which air may be discharged to points in front and in rear of said seat, a fan within said casing beneath the inlet opening for circulating air from the inlet opening through the outlet openings, a motor for driving the fan, an enclosure for the motor between the bottom wall of the casing and the fan therein l having means for deflecting toward the outlet openings air from the inlet opening, and means supporting the motor from said enclosure.

5. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted upon the floor beneath the front seat of a motor vehicle, said casing havin substantially horizontal top and bottom walls and upright end walls, the top wall being provided at approximately the center therea."

of with an inlet opening for air. the end walls having outlet openings through which air may be discharged to points in front and in rear of said seat, a fan within said casing beneath the inlet opening for circulating air from the inlet opencasing having substantially horizontal top and bottom walls and upright end walls, the top wall being provided at approximately the center thereof with an inlet opening for air, the end walls having outlet openings through which air may be discharged to points in front and in rear of said seat, a fan within said casing beneath the inlet opening for circulating air from. the inlet opening through the outlet openings, a motor for driving the fan, a sectional enclosure for the motor, one section rising from the bottom wall of the casing in the path of air from the inlet opening and having means for deflecting such air toward the outlet openings, the other section depending from the bottom wall of the casing, means supporting the motor from the first mentioned section, and means securing the second section to the bottom of the casing and adapted to secure the latter to the floor of the vehicle.

7. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted upon the floor beneath the front seat of a motor vehicle, said casing having substantially horizontal top and bottom walls and upright end walls, the top wall being provided at approximately the center thereof with an inlet opening for air, the end walls having outlet openings through which air may be discharged to points in front and in rear of said seat, a fan within said casing beneath the inlet opening for circulating air from the inlet opening through the outlet openings, a motor for driving the fan, a sectional enclosure for the motor, one section rising from the bottom wall of the casing, the other section depending from the bottom. wall of the casing, means supporting the motor from one of said sections, and means securing the other of said sections to the bottom wall of the casing and having means for securing the latter to the floor of the vehicle.

8. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a sectional casing adapted to be mounted upon the floor beneath the front seat of a motor vehicle, said casing having substantially horizontal top and bottom walls and upright end walls, the top wall having an inlet opening for air, the upright end walls having outlet openings through which air may be discharged to points in front and in rear of said seat, a fan within the casing beneath the inlet opening for circulating air frm the inlet opening through the outlet openings, a motor for driving the fan, one section of the casing having means forming the top and upright walls of the casing, the other section having means forming the bottom of the casing and having means rising from said bottom in the path of air from the inlet opening to deflect air from the inlet opening toward the outlet openings, and means supporting the motor from said air defleeting means.

9. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a sectional casing adapted to be mounted upon the floor beneath the front seat of a motor vehicle, said casing having substantially horizontal top and bottom walls and upright end walls, the top wall having an inlet opening for air, the upright end walls having outlet openings through which air may be discharged to points in front and in rear of said seat, a fan within the casing beneath the inlet opening for circulating air from the inlet opening through the outlet openings, a motor for driving the fan, one section of the casing having means forming the top and upright walls of the casing, the other section having means forming the bottom of the casing and having means rising from said bottom and forming an enclosure for the motor, and means suspending the motor from said enclosure.

10. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a radiator and fan, and a common casing for said radiator and fan having two sections, one section forming the top and upright walls of the casing, the other section forming the bottom of the casing and having a portion serving as a deflector for air and as a support for a motor for said fan.

:11. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a heat exchange element, a fan for circulating air against said element to be heated, a motor for said fan, a deflector for the circulated air encircling the motor, means suspending the motor from the deflector, and a common casing for the heat exchange element, fan and deflector and including a detachable cup-shaped member cooperating with the deflector to form a housing for the motor.

12. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a heat exchange element, a fan for circulating air against said element, a motor for said fan, a

deflector for the circulated air encircling the motor, means suspending the motor from the deflector, a casing for said heat exchange element, fan and deflector, and a shield for the motor attached to the casing and cooperating with the deflector to form a housing for the motor, a part of said shield attaching means being operable to mount the whole heater structure upon the floor of a motor vehicle.

13. A heater structure for use between the floor and front seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted beneath the front seat of amotor vehicle, said casing being provided with air inlet and outlet openings, a fan within said casing for circulating air from the inlet opening to the outlet openings, a motor for driving said fan, a shield for said motor, and a single means for securing the shield to the casing and for securing the latter to a floor of a motor vehicle.

LEWIS W. WELCH. 

